78255: Ruling on piercing women’s ears

I have a female colleague at work who is asking me abut the ruling on piercing a girl’s ears so that she can wear jewellery – is it halaal? If it is halaal, is it permissible to pierce the ear at the top and not at the bottom?.

Praise be to Allaah.

Firstly:

Working in a
place where men and women mix is haraam and has many bad effects. This has
been discussed in the answers to questions no.
50398,
6666 and
39799. See also the answer to
question no. 27304 which
mentions the ruling on speaking to women at work.

We have
mentioned this here because the questioner refers to “my female colleague at
work”. Your passing on her question and saying that you have spoken with her
mean that we are obliged to advise you, before answering your question, and
tell you that both of you should look for work where there is no mixing. The
questions to which we have referred you spare us the need to repeat the
discussion on working in places where men and women mix.

Secondly:

With regard
to piercing the ears of females, there is a difference of scholarly opinion
on the ruling. The Hanafis and Hanbalis are of the view that this is
permissible. The Shaafa’is are of the view that it is not allowed, and Ibn
al-Jawzi and Ibn ‘Aqeel, who were Hanbalis, agreed with them. They did not
quote any texts as evidence that it is not allowed, rather they said that it
causes pain, and that wearing adornment in the ear is not essential, and is
not so important as to allow causing pain to the female for this purpose.

The one who
studies the texts of the Prophet’s Sunnah and the lives of the female
Sahabaah (may Allaah be pleased with them) will see that the more correct
view is the former, which is that it is permissible. The texts which
indicate that include the following:

1 – It was
narrated that Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: The Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) came out and prayed, then
he delivered a khutbah – and he did not mention any adhaan or iqaamah – then
he went to the women and exhorted and reminded them, and told them to give
charity, and I saw them taking off their earrings and necklaces and giving
them to Bilaal, then he and Bilaal went back to his house.

Narrated by
al-Bukhaari (4951) and Muslim (884).

According to
another report narrated by them both:

They started
throwing their earrings and necklaces.

2 – It was
narrated that ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) said: Eleven women
sat and promised one another that they would not conceal anything about
their husbands … the eleventh one said: My husband is Abu Zar’ and what (can
I say about) Abu Zar’? He has given me many ornaments and my ears are
heavily loaded with them. … ‘Aa’ishah said: The Messenger of Allaah
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: I am to you as Abu Zar’
was to Umm Zar’.

Narrated by
al-Bukhaari (4893) and Muslim (2448).

The Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) approved of what Abu Zar’
did by filling the ears of Umm Zar’ with jewellery until they became heavy.

With regard
to piercing the ears at the top, it seems that it makes no difference
whether they are pierced at the bottom or at the top, depending on whether
this is customary in a woman’s environment. We should note that it is not
permissible for a woman to show the jewellery that she is wearing on her
hand, ear or neck.

Shaykh
Muhammad al-Saalih al-‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) was asked
about piercing a girls’ nose or ear for the sake of beautification.

He replied:

The correct
view is that there is nothing wrong with piercing the ear, because one of
the aims that is achieved by that is wearing permissible jewellery. It is
known that the women of the Sahaabah had earrings that they wore in their
ears. The pain is light, and if the piercing is done when the girl is small,
it heals quickly.

With regard
to piercing the nose, I do not remember that the scholars said anything
about it, but it is a kind of mutilation and deforming of the appearance as
we see it, but perhaps others do not see it that way. If a woman is in a
country where putting jewellery in the nose is seen as a kind of adornment
and beautification, there is nothing wrong with piercing the nose.

Majmoo’
Fataawa Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (11/ question no. 69).

Shaykh
Saalih al-Fawzaan (may Allaah preserve him) said:

There is
nothing wrong with piercing the ears of a girl in order to put jewellery in
her ears. This is still done by many people, and even at the time of the
Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) women used to wear
jewellery in their ears and elsewhere without being rebuked for it.

With regard
to it hurting the girl, the purpose of it is in her interests, because she
needs jewellery, and to adorn herself. Piercing the ears serves a
permissible purpose and is allowed because of need. Just as it is
permissible to carry out surgery and cauterize her if that is needed on
medical grounds, it is also permissible to pierce her ear in order to put
jewellery in it, because it is something that she needs, and it is something
that does not hurt very much, and does not have a great effect on her.